To George Washington from the Massachusetts General Court, July–August 1775
From the Massachusetts General Court
[Watertown, Mass., July or August 1775]
This Court have had information from many respectable Persons, That intelligence is constantly conveyed to General Gage, Of all the operations pursued in this Colony for the restoration of our Liberty, by some bad men from the Province of New Hamshe, who are continually going to, and from, the Army under your Excellencys command, from thence it is carried on board the Scarboro Man of war now Laying in the Harbour of Piscataway and sent immediately to Boston by their Cutters—We beg leave to recommend this as a matter worthy, your Excellencys attention; and would suggest whether it might not be expedient to send some Forces into that Province to cut off all communication between the Inhabitants of sd Province, and the Ship of war now in said Harbour. If your Excellency does not approve of this method, We think at least their Provincial Congress may be informed of such transactions and that they be desired to use their utmost exertions for preventing such Villainous proceedings as the continuance thereof may be attended with important consequences.1
L, DLC:GW. This undated letter was written sometime between 26 July, when the new General Court was completed by the convening of the council, and 24 Aug., when the Scarborough left New Hampshire waters. See note 1.
1. The British warship Scarborough, commanded by Capt. Andrew Barkley, arrived in the Piscataqua River off Portsmouth, N.H., on 19 Dec. 1774 and remained there until 24 Aug. 1775, when it sailed for Boston with Gov. John Wentworth and his family aboard. On 13 Aug. the Portsmouth committee of safety, “finding it inconsistent with the peace and good order of the Town that any further communication should be kept up between the Ship Scarborough and the Town, . . . Voted, That henceforward no Boats pass or repass from said ship or the Town of New Castle, without a permit from this Committee, or the selectmen or Committee of New Castle” (, 7:389).